InfoTrends Report Ranks Roland DGA Number One

Currently celebrating its thirtieth anniversary, Roland DGA Corp. has once again been recognized by InfoTrends, Inc. as the leading North American provider of digital printers for the durable graphics market.

According to the InfoTrends 2010 Quarterly Wide-Format Tracking Shipping Project report, Roland sold nearly twice as many printers in 2010 priced under $30,000 into the North American marketplace as its nearest competitors. The report cites Roland’s extensive support services and product reliability, as well as its in-depth understanding of customers and their unique business requirements, as key factors driving the company’s success.

“Our wide format quarterly shipment tracking project has shown that Roland is, once again, the worldwide market leader for 2010 in the sale of wide format durable graphics printers,” said Tim Greene, analyst for InfoTrends, Inc. and author of the report.

Focusing on the solvent inkjet printer manufacturing market, the InfoTrends report covers all four reporting quarters in 2010 and focuses on low-end wide-format solvent inkjets, considered to be one of the largest segments of the wide-format digital printing market. Combined, the global manufacturers of solvent inkjet printing equipment sold nearly 23,000 units in 2010. A total of 89 percent of the sales recorded were for printers priced under $30,000. InfoTrends numbers also show Roland with the leading market share when alternate (non-solvent) durable graphics technologies at similar price points are included in the study.

“Being a market leader involves more than offering great products at an affordable price,” said Dave Goward, president and CEO for Roland DGA Corp. “For Roland, it is a story thirty years in the making, built on a foundation of innovation and leadership, and forged out of a strong passion for providing customers with service that is second to none. These principles are the very fabric this company is created from, and something we encourage both within our own company and throughout our dealer channels.”

The announcement comes fresh on the heels of several important new product introductions from Roland serving both the wide format and desktop printing markets. Roland recently debuted the industry’s first desktop metallic inkjet printer/cutter, the twenty-inch VersaStudio BN-20, opening up new business opportunities for new and established shops looking to add metallic capabilities to their production environment.

Two new VersaUV LED printers were also introduced in 2011. The new VersaUV LEJ-640 64-inch hybrid flatbed and roll-to-roll printer is designed for commercial printers focused on the packaging market as well as high-end sign shops, and the 12-inch VersaUV LEF-12 flatbed UV LED printer serves the personalization market with direct printing on items ranging from cell phone covers and laptop computers to gifts, glassware and accessories. Each new printer features the latest version of Roland VersaWorks RIP software and comes equipped with specialty inks to help Roland customers explore new design options and differentiate their businesses in the marketplace.

“After thirty years of serving creative professionals, the Roland organization has never been stronger,” said Goward. “We are honored that so many of the world’s top graphics professionals continue to choose Roland, and we look forward to helping each customer build a successful Roland business.”

For more information on Roland products, call 800/542-2307 or visit www.rolanddga.com.